Game 74: Denver Nuggets (50-23) @ Houston Rockets (47-28) - 5:00 PM ET

ducler · Post #1 » by **ducler** » Thu Mar 28, 2019 11:06 pm

skywalker33 · Post #2 » by **skywalker33** » Thu Mar 28, 2019 11:13 pm

Biggest game of the season !! Hope they looked at film of the Bucks win over the Rockets. Capella's back so Joker will have his hands full with PNR and on the road. Could be toughest matchup as well.

Post #3 » by **THE J0KER** » Thu Mar 28, 2019 11:35 pm

If we win, it would be our biggest win of the season.

If we lose, no single reason to worry about (except in blowout case), because at the end of the day, where we are supposed to lose at all this season if not in Houston vs highly motivated healthy Rockets.

Let's go Nuggets!

Post #4 » by **THE J0KER** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 1:23 am

Great 1st quarter, but the bench lose momentum with 4-18 run, and when starters are back, Barton takes control from Jokic of Nuggets offense, and it does not look nice. Very disappointing at the end to see -18 deficit thanks to terrible 2nd quarter. Our starting guards Murray and Harris were good, it is the most positive thing to see in the 1st half. Jokic started the game like MVP, but in the 2nd quarter not that good, plus Malone strip offense control from him (even benched him in last two minutes!?).

It is expected Rockets will take a big advantage from SG spot... but 1st half story is not about Harden:
Gordon+Rivers=23pts (9-11fg)
Barton+Beasley=2pts (1-8fg)

U hova · Post #5 » by **U hova** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 1:42 am

i hate the rockets

skywalker33 · Post #6 » by **skywalker33** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 2:07 am

Looks like nobody told Barton and Beasley this was a big game :banghead:

SkillzFromThe6 · Post #7 » by **SkillzFromThe6** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 2:19 am

Somehow someway Will Barton managed to play the most minutes with 28:43. All he had was 2 points 4 assists 1 rebound 1-6 FG 1 TO. He literally has one job to do and it's to score.

Torrey Craig who usually plays damn near 25+ minutes every game vs Houston played 4 minutes. 2 points 0 assists 0 rebounds 0-2 FG 1 steal.

Beasley was just ice cold tonight. I also wanted to see Jokic go at Harden in the post more.

All in all, Houston always beats Nuggets. Nothing new.

Post #8 » by **THE J0KER** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 2:37 am

I'd say if we lose tonight it is not big deal, EXCEPT IN A BLOWOUT CASE, which happens, unfortunately. Three straight games with 95-under points last time we have in 2015. Jokic has only 2 assists in the previous game, 4 assists in the opening 3 minutes of today's game but just 2 in the rest of the game, so Jokic was basically our trademark point-center for just 3 minutes in past two games!? Without passing and without a playmaking role, Jokic is just a very good center (Aldridge/Vucevic level) and nothing more. So Nikola Vucevic Jokic is not that bad at all today (just -1 in +/- column) considering that Malone managed to use him under 25 minutes.

After this game, we definitely should be concerned about Malone's plans for Jokic and Burton roles, and also our bench was so disappointed today.

RRFB · Post #9 » by **RRFB** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 3:03 am

At some point guys just need to make their shots. They missed so many open looks and I feel like that's been a bit of a problem for a little while now. Murray, Harris, Barton, and Beasley all seem to run either hot or cold, and outside of Murray, they were all cold tonight. I worry a bit about having to rely on all of them for a full playoff series.

That said, I'm not gonna panic since the end result wasn't all that unexpected. I didn't think Harden and Capela beat us any more than Rivers and Gordon did. If we shoot better and don't let Austin Rivers go off in the first half, I think this game is a lot closer.

Post #10 » by **NuggetsWY** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 3:07 am

If Barton isn't going to score, why is he playing? It certainly isn't for defense!

Millsap with 2 rebounds and 8 points? Should have taken the night off!

Jokic only had 2 assists in the second half (I think).

Harris & Murray were okay.

Morris was the only bench player that was scoring.

Plumlee was tied with Jokic at 8 rebounds but other than that ... MEH.

No offense, poor defense - should've just let the starters take a night off.

psimanic1 · Post #11 » by **psimanic1** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 9:09 am

I think tonight's game is much more important to us, but...
Imagine if we lost by 2-3 pts after really tough game, and then you go to OKC all broken and you lose that one also...Maybe this way we have chances to go 1-1 on this b2b road trip...

Post #12 » by **NuggetsWY** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 12:58 pm

psimanic1 wrote:I think tonight's game is much more important to us, but...
Imagine if we lost by 2-3 pts after really tough game, and then you go to OKC all broken and you lose that one also...Maybe this way we have chances to go 1-1 on this b2b road trip...

Such an optimist :lol:

but yeah, I agree and as I've said before, if the Nuggets play their game, they can beat any team in the league. :nod:

Sgt Major · Post #13 » by **Sgt Major** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 8:13 pm

Open shots, open shots, open shots... Bad shooting is killing the Nuggets and there's no plan B.

Post #14 » by **NuggetsWY** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 10:16 pm

Sgt Major wrote:Open shots, open shots, open shots... Bad shooting is killing the Nuggets and there's no plan B.

I'd say Plan-B should be "Throw the ball to Jokic in the high post and cut to the basket or run the baseline" - usually results in a layup/dunk or free throws.

Post #15 » by **The Rebel** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 6:37 pm

NuggetsWY wrote:
Sgt Major wrote:Open shots, open shots, open shots... Bad shooting is killing the Nuggets and there's no plan B.

I'd say Plan-B should be "Throw the ball to Jokic in the high post and cut to the basket or run the baseline" - usually results in a layup/dunk or free throws.

that should be plan A, plan B should be when they double Jokic before he gets the ball and the PG slashing to the rim drawing another defender causing 4 guys to be tied up and then he passes out to the wide open 3s which should be at least 2 or 3 wide open to choose from.

Post #16 » by **NuggetsWY** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 11:47 pm

The Rebel wrote:
NuggetsWY wrote:
Sgt Major wrote:Open shots, open shots, open shots... Bad shooting is killing the Nuggets and there's no plan B.

I'd say Plan-B should be "Throw the ball to Jokic in the high post and cut to the basket or run the baseline" - usually results in a layup/dunk or free throws.

that should be plan A, plan B should be when they double Jokic before he gets the ball and the PG slashing to the rim drawing another defender causing 4 guys to be tied up and then he passes out to the wide open 3s which should be at least 2 or 3 wide open to choose from.

Yeah, I should have made that a green font. :oops:

Plan B should actually be Jokic taking more shots - especially when when he has a clear look at the basket. Then I'd go with Plan C which sounds much like your above Plan B which sounds very similar to our Plan A. 8-)